Another 100 Colorado Creatives: Quintin Gonzalez

Texas-born with an MFA from Yale, Quintin Gonzalez makes visually fluid work, regardless of the medium, as he moves between painting, drawing, printmaking, video and new media. Within that repertoire, Gonzalez creates intuitively, drawing from pop-cultural imagery -- and something a little deeper. Recently, his work has been seen in Denver at Michael Warren Contemporary, onscreen at Monkey House 4, as part of Denver Digerati's Friday Flash series on Denver Theatre District LED screens and on the wall at Plus Gallery, as part of last year's Mirage group show. Here's his 100CC questionnaire.

See also: Another 100 Colorado Creatives: Ivar Zeile

If you could collaborate with anyone in history, who would it be, and why?

I would collaborate with Max Ernst, the German surrealist artist. I am interested in Max Ernst because his work incorporates many different methods of producing artwork. But what I really like about his work is that at times it looks as if some works were done by a completely different artist -- that with a new use of a material, an entirely new aspect to his creativity is often revealed that is completely different from what he did before. I find that quality to be very unique in art history.

Who in the world is interesting to you right now, and why?

Right now it is Gerhard Richter, the German contemporary painter. Gerhard Richter has brought an amazing sense of craft and innovation to all his work. I have not really seen another abstractionist painting like Gerhard Richter, and I find him powerfully original. His process is simple, yet he produces very complex and beautiful works.

What's one art trend you want to see die this year?

I don't keep up with art trends enough to say; although, I am finding artspeak buzzwords a little tedious.

What's your day job?

I am an Associate Professor in the Department of Visual Arts at the College of Arts & Media, University of Colorado, Denver.

A mystery patron offers you unlimited funds for life. What will you do with it?

I would set up my art studio on the moon and paint in low gravity. Now that would be fun.

What's the one thing Denver (or Colorado) could do to help the arts?

Continue supporting artistic, scientific and cultural organizations through the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD). Colorado has so many great SCFD organizations that help make this state a very vibrant place.

Who is your favorite Colorado Creative?

Hollis + Lana. I had the opportunity to see their work recently, and I find them to be a dynamic creative team who produce artworks that are both beautiful and intensely well-crafted. I think their work has a wonderful sense of play and complexity.

What's on your agenda in the coming year?

I will continue to explore the interaction between my new media work and my painting and drawings. I think that my new media work really functions as an extension of my painting and vice-versa.

Who do you think will get noticed in the local arts community in 2014?

The curatorial team of Michael McClung and Warren Campbell at the new Michael Warren Contemporary gallery. Their gallery will bring a new and exciting vision to Denver's contemporary art scene that will have a bold focus to materials and process. I feel that this is indeed important work because it is in the manipulation of materials and process that artists often express the magic and power of their individuality.

And Tariana Navas-Nieves. Her leadership as the Director of Cultural Affairs for the City of Denver has been and will no doubt continue to be outstanding. She oversees programming and operations for the McNichols building and cultural events citywide, such as the Public Art Division, Create Denver, SCFD and the Arts Education Fund.

Learn more about Quintin Gonzalez and his work online.

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